THE ROLE OF MELATONIN IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEADACHE

Abstract

Melatonin is an endogenous chronobiotic that demonstrated its analgesic potential in an array of experimental and clinical studies. It proved efficient in fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, back pain and various types of headache. The level of evidence supporting melatonin’s analgesic properties in treating migraine and cluster headache is the highest. This review provides a summary of main papers currently available about the use of melatonin in the treatment of primary headache disorders of various types. It discusses possible mechanisms of melatonin analgesic action and prospects of its use in combination therapy of headache.

Keywords

• melatonin
• pain
• headache
• analgesic